About the Counts of Cilli
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ENGLISH 1 1 Old Castle Celje Tourist Information Centre 6 Defensive Trench and Drawbridge ABOUT THE COUNTS OF CILLI 2 Veronika Café 7 Tower above Pelikan’s Trail 3 Eastern Inner Ward 8 Gothic Palatium The Counts of Cilli dynasty dates back Sigismund of Luxembourg. As the oldest 4 Frederick’s Tower (panoramic point) 9 Romanesque Palatium to the Lords of Sanneck (Žovnek) from son of Count Hermann II of Cilli, Frederick 5 Central Courtyard with a Well 10 Viewing platform the Sanneck (Žovnek) Castle in the II of Cilli was the heir apparent. In the Lower Savinja Valley. After the Counts of history of the dynasty, he is known for his Heunburg died out, they inherited their tragic love story with Veronika of Desenice. estate including Old Castle Celje. Frederick, His politically ambitious father married 10 9 Lord of Sanneck, moved to Celje with him off to Elizabeth of Frankopan, with 7 his family and modernised and fortified whom Frederick was not happy. When his the castle to serve as a more comfortable wife was found murdered, he was finally 8 residence. Soon after, in 1341, he was free to marry his beloved but thus tainted 4 10 elevated to Count of Celje, which marks the the reputation of the whole dynasty. He beginning of the Counts of Cilli dynasty. was consequently punished by his father, 5 6 The present-day coat-of-arms of the city who had him imprisoned in a 23-metre of Celje – three golden stars on a blue high defence tower and had Veronika background – also dates back to that period. assassinated but later had to free him as his 3 The dynasty experienced its greatest successor. The dynasty thus continued to 2 rise during the reign of Count Hermann gain social, economic and political power II of Cilli. In the quest to free himself until the Counts of Cilli were elevated to the The Middle Ages, when the present-day wc from the supremacy of the Habsburgs, rank of Princes of the Holy Roman Empire. i 1 city of Celje was transformed into a market Count Hermann II of Cilli established an The ensuing dispute with the Habsburgs was settlement, marks a turning point in the alliance with the ambitious Sigismund of resolved by a peace treaty and an agreement history of the city, which flourished during Luxembourg, King of Hungary, whose life of mutual inheritance on the basis of which the reign of the Counts of Cilli after being he saved during the Battle of Nicopolis the Habsburgs inherited all the estates granted city rights in 1451. against the Ottoman Empire. previously held by the Counts of Cilli in the Old Castle Celje was originally owned by rampart with small towers, outbuildings As a reward, Sigismund subsequently Holy Roman Empire when the male line of the Carinthian Counts of Heunberg, who and military facilities, wide defensive married Count Hermann's youngest the Counts of Cilli died out in 1456 when erected the building during the 2nd half of trenches and a new access to the central daughter Barbara of Cilli, who thus became Count Ulrich II of Cilli was assassinated. the 12th century. Compared to the present part of the castle. Even though the castle the Queen of Hungary and, later on, also day, the castle was much smaller and was extremely well and strongly secured, the Queen of Germany and Bohemia by encompassed only a Romanesque palatium, the final part of the rampart was added at marriage. Because of her free thinking, an enclosed courtyard and an exterior the beginning of the 16th century, turning it religious tolerance and especially her rampart, secured by a defence passageway into one of the mightiest fortresses of the interest in alchemy and astrology, emotions LEGEND: on the top, a characteristic of other castles time. ran high even long after she died. Her of the time. During its final development phase, the granddaughter Elisabeth of Habsburg After the Counts of Heunberg died out, medieval castle was transformed into a married the King of Poland with whom About the the castle was inherited by the Counts of Renaissance fortress that would provide she had 13 children, out of which 10 Black Raven Sanneck, who were to be elevated to the shelter to the locals in times of danger. survived. Before Count Ulrich set out to participate in rank of the Counts of Celje soon after During the 18th century, the castle was During the reign of the most a battle, a lady-in-waiting saw a black raven, their move to Celje. The Counts undertook abandoned and stones from which it had powerful and influential warning him that he should not leave home as the transformation of the castle into been constructed were used for other representative of the Counts of a black raven was considered bad luck. Ulrich, a comfortable residence. The exterior buildings erected nearby. Cilli dynasty, Count Hermann II however, ignored her and set out anyway. rampart was built into a Gothic palatium Since its renovation, the castle has turned of Cilli, the dynasty was involved While fighting in Belgrade, he saw the same that served as a residential part of the into an attractive tourist point. Visitors in the top-level European political raven. While observing it, he was stabbed by castle. The Counts also erected an almost can avail of the state-of-the-art Tourist scene and established alliances with one of his enemy’s troops. This is how Ulrich 23-metre high defence tower on a nearby Information Centre and the Veronika Café. the most significant noble families of met his demise. hill that was subsequently referred to as The largest medieval castle in Slovenia by the time. In 1436, two representatives Frederick’s Tower. During subsequent surface area acts as a wonderful setting of the Counts of Cilli, Frederick II and phases of development of the building, the for weddings and numerous events and Ulrich II of Cilli, were elevated to the rank castle complex was expanded by an exterior concerts held during summer. of Princes of the Holy Roman Empire by 1 2 3 TAKE A STROLL 3 AROUND THE CASTLE Eastern Inner Ward Discover hidden parts The Eastern Inner Ward serves of the castle, feel the as a venue for the Living History power of history and programme held between April experience the life and October that provides castle of one of the most visitors with the opportunity to powerful European form part of “living” history and families of the Late to engage in fencing, archery or Middle Ages. Guided creative medieval workshops in by 11 information an authentic environment. boards along the castle 1 complex, you will be able to discover the castle and unveil its Old Castle Celje Tourist Information Centre history on your own. Enter the castle through the Tourist Information Centre, whose premises are located next to the former watchtower. At the Tourist Information Centre, you can purchase tickets and souvenirs and be provided with basic information about Celje and the castle. You can also visit the permanent Celje Regional Museum Counts of Cilli exhibition entitled “Counts of Cilli Today and Never Again”, located in the parti-wall. 4 Frederick’s Tower – panoramic point The tower takes its name from Count Frederick II of Cilli, son of the most LEGEND: powerful and influential representative of the Counts of Cilli dynasty, Count How Frederick Hermann II of Cilli. Erected in the 14th century, it is 23 metres Survived His Incarceration high, and its walls are 3 metres One night, the son of the mighty Count Hermann II of thick. A darkroom was set up Cilli, Frederick II, had his first and legal wife, Elizabeth 2 in its first floor, above which of Frankopan, assassinated and then he secretly married weapon and other military Veronika of Desenice against his father’s wishes. As a equipment storage facilities result, Count Hermann II of Cilli had his son imprisoned were located. In its original in the main tower of the castle and Veronika of Desenice Veronika Café form, a defence passageway drowned. According to the legend, Frederick II, who was At the Veronika Café, you can avail of its castle ran around the entire top heading towards certain death, was saved by a loyal shield drinks and desserts and a Frederick’s Tower-shaped floor of the tower. bearer who excavated a subterranean passage through playground for children. This is where Frederick II was which he would bring Frederick II food. It is said that this held captive after marrying his passage could still be seen during the previous century and beloved Veronika of Desenice was sufficiently wide to be used by an adult man. against his father’s wishes. 4 5 LEGEND: About the Fate of the Castle’s Well 5 One night, a farmer arrived to the castle to convey an important piece Central Courtyard with a Well of news to its owner. As he reached During the reign of the Counts of the courtyard, he suddenly heard Cilli, this part of the castle contained a voice saying:”Where is my land, significant outbuildings and military where is my castle, who am I?” As the facilities. Wall remnants indicate the farmer approached the well, he saw location of the former forge and stables. Count Ulrich waist-deep in water and Nowadays, the Central Courtyard is wounded all over his body. Since then, also the main venue of events held at the nobody else has dared to collect water castle during summer, open-air concerts from the well, which has been walled in.